The Aspen Institute

María Ortiz Pérez is the Managing Director of the Aspen Institute Energy and Environment Program (EEP). Prior to joining the Aspen Institute, Maria served for 11 years at the United Nations in Chile and Lebanon. As the Deputy Chief of Staff at the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, she led the institution’s initiatives on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. At the United Nations Economic Commission for Western Asia, she served in the Executive Office and as a project manager during the “Arab Spring”, leading projects on governance and sustainable development in Iraq and Lebanon. Prior to joining the United Nations, Maria managed the transparency and accountability programs of the Boston-based Pioneer Institute for Public Policy Research. Maria has ample experience in strategic planning, program management, stakeholder engagement and coalition building and has collaborated in several publications on international agreements, sustainable development, public administration, and governance in conflict settings. Maria holds a master’s degree in Public Administration from Suffolk University and a Public Leadership Credential from the Kennedy School of Government from Harvard University. She lives with her family in Silver Spring, Maryland and is originally from Mexico City.